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New Jersey is one of the worst states when it comes to speeding tickets. The state is known for its numerous speed traps, so it catches and tickets lots of speeders. Those tickets come with hefty fines and points on your license.
If you end up with six points on your license during a three-year period, you will have to pay a surcharge. It’s even worse if your point total continues growing. Once you reach 12 or more points, the state will suspend your license.
That’s enough to make your pulse rate speed up, but there’s good news. You have some options to reduce or avoid points after a speeding ticket. Get some information about speeding tickets and points, and go over your options to clear your license. Then, you can clean up your driving record without worrying about your license getting suspended and your insurance rates skyrocketing.
How Many Points Is a Speeding Ticket in NJ?
New Jersey’s system assigns points based on how many miles per hour you drove over the speed limit.
The system is as follows:
· Driving 1-14 mph over the posted speed limit adds two points
· Driving 15-29 mph over the posted speed limit adds four points
· Driving 30 mph or more over the posted speed limit adds five points
Those points can add up quickly, leading to a surcharge or suspension. You can’t help but wonder if those points will stay on your license forever. The good news is: That doesn’t have to be the case. Speeding tickets and points don’t have to stay on your license for long at all.
How Long Does a Speeding Ticket Stay on Your Record in New Jersey?
Your speeding ticket will remain on your record for at least one year. If you don’t have any more moving violations over the course of the year, New Jersey will deduct three points from your license. If you only received two points, that means your ticket will be removed.
If you have more than three points, the ticket will stay on your record until all the points are cleared. Points don’t expire, so you will have to clear them.
Receiving points on your license is just one penalty that comes with a speeding ticket. You’ll also have to pay a fine.
How Much Does a New Jersey Speeding Ticket Cost?
Just like points, costs vary by the rate of speed. The more you exceed the speed limit, the larger the fine will be.
You’ll pay:
· $85 if driving 1-9 mph over the posted speed limit
· $95 if driving 10-14 mph over the posted speed limit
· $105 if driving 15-19 mph over the posted speed limit
· $200 if driving 20-24 mph over the posted speed limit
· $220 if driving 25-29 mph over the posted speed limit
· $240 if driving 30-34 mph over the posted speed limit
· $260 if driving 35-39 mph over the posted speed limit
While you can take action to reduce or eliminate your points, you will have to pay your fine as long as you are found guilty. However, you will likely agree that paying your fine and some extra money is worth it if you can avoid points. There are various options for this, including a guilty plea under the Unsafe Driving statute. Let’s take a closer look at this option.
Using the Unsafe Driving Statute to Avoid Points on Your License From an NJ Speeding Ticket
New Jersey’s Unsafe Driving statute allows you to plead guilty to the speeding charge while still avoiding points on your license. If it’s your first offense, you’ll pay a $50-$150 fine. The fine goes up to $100-$150 for the second offense and $200-$500 for your third offense.
Regardless of which offense it is, you’ll also have to pay a $250 surcharge. The money goes to the Division of Revenue. That means you’ll pay $300-$400 for your first offense.
You can plead guilty under the Unsafe Driving statute up to two times in five years. If you enter a guilty plea for a third driving offense within five years, you will receive four points on your driving record. You’ll also have to pay the fine and surcharge.
Once the five years have passed, you can use this plea again. While it is costly, it can help you avoid points on your license.
However, even with the points removed from your license, you might still have to pay more for your auto insurance. Insurance companies have a point scoring system that’s separate from the state database. They might still raise your rates because you received a ticket.
Pleading guilty under the Unsafe Driving statute is just one of your numerous options for reducing points on your license. You might discover that one of the other options is better for your situation.
Other Ways to Reduce Points Rather Than Pleading to Unsafe Driving
If you don’t want to pay the hefty fees for the Unsafe Driving plea, you have some other choices. You can reduce points by:
· Taking a defensive driving course
· Take the Improvement Program
· Avoiding getting additional tickets
Many people choose to enroll in a state-approved defensive driving course. Upon completion, the state will remove two points from your record. You can only receive a point reduction once every five years.
Courses are available in classrooms and online, and the fee depends on the company you use. You can expect to pay around $30, although some companies charge even less.
Along with removing points, you can use this class to lower your car insurance rates. The rate reduction depends on your driving record, insurance company, and other factors. You can contact your insurance agent before signing up for the course to find out how much you can save.
The Driver Improvement Program is also an option. This course is reserved for those who have 12-14 points on their records. It allows them to avoid a suspension by removing three points from their license upon completion.
You have to pay a $75 administrative fee for the course, plus a training fee. You’ll find out how much the training fee is when you sign up for the course. Then, you will pay it directly to the provider when you attend the class.
While taking a class is a good way to reduce points, you have an easier option. Maintaining a clean driving record will help you shave points off your license each year. Remember, the state removes three points each year that you go without a violation. Driving carefully and staying within the speed limit will help you avoid violations, so you can clear your record.
Removing the points on your own is right for some, but not all, situations. There are other times you should hire an attorney. Hiring an attorney can help you avoid paying fines, enrolling in classes, and waiting for points to expire.
Why Hire an Attorney If I Can Use the Unsafe Driving Plea
If you received a speeding ticket, your gut instinct might be to enter an Unsafe Driving plea, pay the fines, and get on with your life. It might sound easier, but it’s not always the right decision. If you aren’t guilty or the officer cited you for driving faster than you were, hiring an attorney is a better choice.
If You Are Not Guilty
You should not enter an Unsafe Driving plea if you are not guilty of speeding. The burden of proof is on the state. That means the prosecutor has to prove you were speeding. Your attorney will build a case to refute all evidence the state presents.
This is a much more affordable option than paying the fines that come with an Unsafe Driving plea. Along with saving money, you will feel much better knowing that you didn’t take responsibility for something that you didn’t do. It doesn’t make sense to give the state hundreds of dollars for a crime you didn’t commit, so you’ll be much happier if you hire an attorney.
What if you were speeding, but the cited speed is higher than the actual speed you were driving? If the officer overstated your driving speed, you need to hire an attorney.
If the Officer Overstated the Speed That You Were Traveling
Even if the radar gun is properly calibrated, the stated speed could be off by a mile or two. Sometimes, the stated speed is off by more than that. If the officer overstated the speed to the point that you have to pay a higher fine, you need to hire an attorney. Remember, you will still have to pay fines with an Unsafe Driver plea, so you don’t have to pay more than you owe.
Your attorney can research the validity of the radar gun in question. This could lead to a reduction or dismissal of charges. Then, you won’t have to overpay for your speeding ticket.
Seeking Legal Help After a Speeding Ticket
Getting a speeding ticket can hurt your driving record and your bank account. If you weren’t guilty or were cited for driving faster than you were, hiring an attorney is an essential next step. You can also hire an attorney if you need help removing or avoiding points on your license.